On Oct 1, 2025, the U.S. government halted all maintenance activity on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT) due to the government shutdown. “During this lapse in appropriations, units of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail will remain open to the public wishing to recreate. While the Appalachian Trail remains accessible to visitors, no volunteer maintenance or other volunteer activities will be conducted,” states the notice from the National Park Service (NPS), which oversees the trail. In a notice issued to the Appalachian Trail Club (ATC), NPS sites the suspension of the NPS Volunteer in Parks (VIP) program and the USFS Volunteers in Forests (VIF) program, which covers volunteers on National Forest lands. Both programs extend worker-compensation protections to AT volunteers in the event of an accident. Therefore, suspension of the programs means that any volunteer accident could expose AT workers, their clubs, and the Appalachian Trail Club to medical costs or other expenses.

NPS lands are closed but accessible and include the six other National Parks through which the AT passes. The remainder of the Trail through state and municipal management agency lands, as well as a few other federal agencies, remains accessible. While shelters, vistas and privies will generally remain open to visitors, volunteers are reminded not to engage in maintenance or clean-up of these facilities during this time.